I meant to share this in June, when I stayed at El Blok for the first time. It was my ninth June vacation in Vieques. I had stayed at Malecon House for seven straight years. But with that inn under new management, I decided to give El Blok a try. I'm glad I did. I had been to their bar and restaurant in previous years. But this was my first time as a hotel guest, and I loved it. Despite some door lock issues (I think their security server lost power a few times), and the failed promise to provide a cooler to take to the beaches every day, I think El Block is a fantastic, modern hotel to make one's "base" during a stay in Vieques. The longer the stay, the better. Don't just visit for the bio-luminescent bay. Stay for the beaches and one of the best bars in the Caribbean.

Will the next-generation Mitsubishi Pajero arrive on the islands of Puerto Rico before their thousands of Navitas (Challengers), and Monteros die off? Mitsubishi is still very popular as a brand in Puerto Rico. While new Lancers and Outlanders sell well on the main island, older SUVs and the long lost Civic competitor, the fifth genration Mirage, are seen all over Vieques, one of the most brutal environments for cars and trucks. Three more Nativa examples and an old Montereo are pictured below, all seen in Vieques in recent years.

I must say, I like the first generation Nativa / Challenger (1995-2008). It had clean lines, a spacious interior, and in the later years, a five speed automatic. They can be seen today all over Vieques (a fine example is pictured above). It is a proven off-roader on three continents.

This tiny blog is just 2 months old, and I see the people in the US and Australia are actually visiting this space on a weekly basis, but I need to put it down for a while. I'm off to Vieques to walk white beaches, snorkel, swim in a bioluminescent bay, drive a jeep, hike in a wildlife reserve, sleep-in with my girl, and otherwise keep away from tehinternets.

This blog was designed to be a place where me and my friends can share tidbits, rant, and write without having to send dozens of e-mails to each other. But I thank the other bloggers out there who have visited and have offered excellent advice and support. It's like a 21st Century version of a pirate radio station, this blog. It's tiny but occasionally entertaining.

This is my first time to Puerto Rico, and I'm glad I am heading off the beaten path and checking out one of the best kept secrets in the Caribbean. It doesn't have a nightlife like Nassau, or pubs like Antigua, but I still expect to enjoy it. I should be back posting Saturday May 19th. There will be baseball, Formula One racing, and politics to catch-up on. My lady will have TV season finales to watch. And I got this.